Song Ting then realized with a start that she had just been trapped in a dream. Although she had woken up from the dream, the lingering fear from it remained.
His mind was not yet fully clear; he simply followed his instincts, grabbed the wrist of the person next to him, and held that cool hand firmly in his own. Only then did his anxious heart finally settle down.
He heard someone chuckle softly in his ear. Looking up, he saw Chu Huaixu smiling at him, his eyes full of teasing amusement.
"With the renowned Young Master Li right here, how could you, sir, still be asleep? This is truly going to break the beauty's heart..."
With her bright and beautiful eyes, Song Ting thought to herself, "No one is as beautiful as you in my eyes."
But he only dared to say such things in his heart, otherwise Huaixu might get angry again, not to mention that old fox Dong Maolin was right next to him.
In the past, he and Zhang Bingzhi were rivals, and most of the court officials were divided into two factions, half of whom followed him and the other half followed Zhang Bingzhi's lead. But Dong Maolin, that old fox, managed to offend neither side.
Clearly, this person is no pushover either.
Just now in her dream, Song Ting blurted out Huai Xu's name, which the old man must have overheard. Song Ting's face turned cold.
If necessary, then we'll make sure this old guy can never speak again.
"My lord?" Dong Maolin's attention seemed to have been on the stage. Only when he noticed Song Ting staring at him did he turn his face and respectfully ask, "What are your orders, my lord?"
"I accidentally fell asleep just now and had a dream."
"Is it that today's play did not suit your taste, sir?" Dong Maolin smiled rather embarrassedly. "However, I quite enjoyed it. I was so engrossed in watching it that I didn't even notice when you fell asleep. Please forgive me, sir."
Song Ting looked into his eyes, and after a moment spoke softly, "It's alright."
The play continued, and Dong Maolin picked up his teacup, casually mentioning, "Sir, I've heard that the Turks are starting to cause trouble again?"
The Turks were ambitious and ruthless. Back when Prince Duan, Chu Mingyao, was still alive, those barbarians were terrified. Although they repeatedly invaded the borders of Dayan, they did not dare to go too far and even submitted a treaty, willing to submit to Dayan.
Five years ago, the Turks unilaterally broke the alliance and went to war with Dayan. That battle lasted a long time, and Dayan suffered a crushing defeat, with none of the 100,000 Xuanjia soldiers surviving.
Before that, the Xuanjia Army was almost like a guardian deity to the people of Dayan. The people on the border did not believe in gods or Buddhas, but instead built a shrine for the Chu family father and son and worshipped them with reverence.
Because the Xuanjia Army rarely suffers defeats and is the guardian deity of Dayan, it is better to believe in the Xuanjia Army than to seek divine intervention.
Therefore, that battle was regarded as a great humiliation for Dayan, and coupled with the rebellion of Prince Duan, the Xuanjia Army was also identified as colluding with the Turks.
Tens of thousands of heroic souls became traitors who sold out their country. After their deaths, they could not only not return to their homeland, but no one dared to claim their bodies. They could only be pecked at by eagles and torn apart by wolves in that desolate land, rotting and stinking.
After the Chu family father and son, no general in the court could be found to rival them. Dayan had no choice but to retreat step by step, and finally appease the Turks by ceding three cities.
Unexpectedly, after several years, those barbarians became restless again, not only stealing the defense map of Shanmen Pass, but also repeatedly harassing the border.
The Turks' ambitions are insatiable. Dayan's weakness and concessions will only intensify their ambition to nibble away at it. Those barbarians simply want to treat Dayan as their own backyard.
News of the impending war between the two countries had spread rapidly within Dayan territory, and many wealthy merchants even began stockpiling grain, resulting in several being arrested by the government.
Song Ting took a sip of tea, sinking into the wooden chair, looking very indifferent: "It's hard to say right now. Yesterday in court, half the people advocated peace and the other half advocated war. In the end, it depends on His Majesty's decision."
"Sigh..." Dong Maolin sighed, his wrinkled face full of regret. "If only Prince Duan and the two young masters were still here, the Xuanjia Army would be invincible. How could they allow these barbarians to run wild in my Dayan territory?"
Song Ting gave him a cold glance, as if to remind him: "Sir, be careful what you say."
Dong Maolin's expression changed slightly, as if he had just realized that he had misspoke. He waved his hand helplessly and sighed, "It was my mistake. Thank you for reminding me, sir."
After a while, he seemed to feel a pang of pity and couldn't help but say, "Right now, our Great Yan has no one to rely on. Once war breaks out, it will be the soldiers and civilians who suffer the most..."
Song Ting remained silent, the tea lid and teacup clinking together with a soft, gentle sound. For a moment, the atmosphere on and off the stage became unusually tense.
Dong Maolin sighed a few more times, and for a moment, no one said anything more.
"I'm so sorry, Master Gu, all the private rooms are full. If you don't mind, there are still seats available in the main hall downstairs." It was the innkeeper's voice.
It seems some important person has arrived again. Judging from the shopkeeper's obsequious tone, he must be a high-ranking official.
"It's alright, then I'll sit downstairs. Please lead the way, innkeeper."
The voice of that official sounded very familiar to Song Ting. Clearly, Huai Xu also recognized the person and his gaze suddenly turned out.
Unfortunately, the private room was surrounded by bamboo curtains, so Huaixu couldn't see the man outside.
Song Ting noticed the subtle expressions on his face and felt a pang of pain in her heart as she recalled the torment and suffering he had endured over the years.
"Is that Lord Gu Yi outside? If Lord Dong doesn't mind, may we invite Lord Gu to come in as well?" Song Ting said calmly.
Dong Maolin naturally overheard the conversation between the two outside, and there was no reason for him to refuse. He immediately instructed his servants to invite the people in.
It was indeed Gu Yi. The latter recognized the servant beside Dong Maolin, but he didn't expect Song Ting to be there as well, and a clear look of surprise flashed in his eyes.
"Greetings, Commander." "Lord Dong."
"Ah, I have now retired and returned home. Lord Gu, there is no need to be so polite. Please have a seat."
The private room wasn't large, just big enough for four people, and Gu Yi's seat was right opposite Chu Huaixu.
Since Gu Yi entered, Chu Huaixu had kept his head down, so he didn't see who was sitting next to Song Ting until he was seated.
Upon seeing the face that resembled an old friend, the usually composed and calm man's expression changed drastically, his pupils trembling violently: "You are..."
Chu Huaixu then raised her head, stood up, and greeted the man with a "Greetings, Your Excellency": "This servant, Huaiyue, greets Your Excellency."
"Huaiyue." "Huaiyue..."
Gu Yi murmured, his emotions gradually calming down: "Yes, you are that Young Master Huaiyue." He bowed to Chu Huaixu, "I am Gu Yiyan. I was abrupt just now. I hope you will forgive me, Young Master."
Chu Huaixu nodded calmly: "It's alright, sir, you're too kind."
"Lord Gu, please don't stand, please sit down," Dong Maolin said.
Gu Yi sat down as instructed, but her gaze kept occasionally drifting to the person opposite her.
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